Trawling for the truth

Here's the footage we got of the Geelong Star in action - before they cut and run, we chased them, and our drone got hit by a bird!!!!! $%#!?

So what should we do next?

We have some okay drone footage - and the only current footage of the Geelong Star in action. But we didn't get the money-shot of the monster trawler hauling in its massive catch. So we could pay to put another drone up and try to get more footage. We also have the option of paying the government the $1080 they're asking for. That means playing along in the so-called 'freedom of information' fiasco we've been persisting with, to try to get the government to release the footage they're holding of the super trawler catching a whale shark.

Resources are tight - and the funding we have, we got from you! So we want to know what you think the priorities are.

Will you answer the 2 question survey below about what we should do next?

Then we'll get back to you with an update on next steps. Thanks heaps!

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My recommendation is pay to obtain footage of the whale shark being caught. Absolutely no doubt that this happened, the rest of Australia just need to see what happened and to understand the damage this monster is doing to our oceans.

Scott Bach commented
2016-08-23 14:09:18 +1000

“Beam it up”. See if you can team up with Aussie Drone enthusiasts, such as the young competitive Aussie kid (& family) commented on Lateline, last night (22/08/2016). These guys build and race a type of Drone. They goal is to be the fastest in the World. And their interests may overlap on this great cause.

Brigitte Hazlett commented
2016-08-23 06:44:04 +1000

I think we should pay the money to get the video n get another drone, and catch them out. I can’t believe this can still happen today!

paul antony commented
2016-08-22 12:01:34 +1000

I reckon you should crowd source for another drone and the Govt whale shark footage.
Anyone got any friends who have access to direct satellite imagery?
Thinking laterally….what about offering a reward for any crew member who supplies the “money shot” footage?

can’t we get someone or something to sink the flaming thing. its disgraceful what this boat is doing and disgusting that our government is allowing it in the first place. but then i suppose someone must be getting rich out of it. one day fish will be a memory – wonder what excuses they will come up with then.thanks to all of you who are trying to stop this.

Eve Louise commented
2016-08-19 17:07:10 +1000

Also…a way to avoid injuring birds by a drone risk is to get a small vessel tagged by GreenPeace or and SeaShepherd to follow and film them as they haul up the nets. I bet they don’t trawl while they’re being watched. If they do then the evidence is clearly visible ‘on film’ forget the drone and forget the payment you have enough evidence here already. Call on Whale Shark Conservation for help too- ECOCEAN they should have great ideas and great contacts.

Eve Louise commented
2016-08-19 16:43:06 +1000

why have you not yet gone to: GO STRAIGHT TO ACA A CURRENTAFFAIR-CHANNEL 9 ANDTODAYTONIGHTCHANNEL 7: YOUCAN GO ON BOTHPROGRAMSANDTHEYWILLBOTH $$PAYYOU. ALSO GO ON LANDLINE!!!! SERIOUSLYWHYNOTTHESEASHEPHERDANDGREENPEACEBANDTOGETHERWITHYOU ON THIS??THEYSHOULDHAVETHEIRSHIPSOUTTHERESTOPPINGTHESEBASTARDSWHY AREN’T THEYDOINGTHIS?SERIOUSLY ON LINEPETITIONSARE OK BUTITSNOTGOING TO STOP IT. THEDRONE IS OK BUTTHATWONTSTOP IT EITHER. YOUNEED A RALLY, YOUNEED TO SPLASHTHISEXPOSEEVERYWHERE. WHYTHEHECKARETHESEMONGRELSALLOWED IN OURCOUNTRYKILLINGOURBELOVEDWILDLIFE – WTF IS GOING ON HERE???? OURGOVERNMENT IS TURNINGOURCOUNTRY TO THEDOGSTHEYAREDELIBERATELYDESTROYINGAUSTRALIAFIRSTTHELANDANDNOWTHESEA. I STRONGLYSUGGESTYOUGRAB A FEWSUPERLAWYERSANDSPEAK TO THEABORIGINAL MP’S WHOSURELYCANSTIPULATETHATTHIS IS A DIRECTINSULT TO THEAUSTRALIANCONSTITUTION. HAVETHE MP’S WHOALLOWEDTHIS TO HAPPENHEAVILYPROSECUTED AS THEYARENOTABOVETHELAW.

I CANIMAGINETHESHEERTERRORANDPANICOURSEAANIMALSWITNESSAND GO THROUGH – ITSLIKE A F##$$@ BOMB!!!! ANDTHEAFTERMATH OF LOSS OF FAMILIESANDFRIENDSTHEPTSTHESESANIMALSMUSTENDURE IS DEVASTATING. I AM SICKENED BY THELACK OF AUSTRALIANSWHOCOWARDLYTURNAWAY OF JUST DON’T CARE-ALLTHEYSEEM TO CAREABOUT IT MINDLESSGASBAGGINGGOSSIPANDSHOPPING. THEYWILLCAREWHENOUROCEANANIMALSARECOMPLETELYWIPEDOUTBECAUSETHEOXYGENTHEYNURTUREOURSEAS TO DEVELOPANDMAINTAIN 70% IN FACTWILL BE NO MORE….BUTIGNORANCEWILLSTILLKEEPOVERPOPULATINGTHECOUNTRY/PLANETTILL THERE’S NOTHINGLEFT.

AUSTRALIA IS A PEACEFULHAVEN A SANCTUARY OF THEGARDEN OF EDENBUTTHEREARESOMEPSYCHOPATHS IN OURGOVERNMENTWHOWANT IT DESTROYEDALL OF IT GONE. CANYOUIMAGINE AN ASTEROIDHURLINGOUTTHESKYLANDING ON TOP OF YOURHOUSEWITHYOU IN IT SMASHINGEVERYTHING TO SMITHEREENS IF YOUCAN THAT’S NOT AS BAD AS THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM UTTERLYDISGUSTEDANDOUTRAGED IN OURCORRUPTGOVERNMENTOFFICIALSWHOARETURNING A BLINDEYE TO THIS – ITSBLOODYOUTRAGEOUSAND UN-AUSTRALIANALRIGHT. AUSTRALIANWATERSARE A SANCTUARYOURWATERSAREPROTECTEDANDOURANIMALSHAVEKNOWNTHISSINCETHEDAWN OF TIME – THAT’S WHYTHEYCOMEHERE. HOW #2@@!! DARETHESEBASTARDSWALTZINTOOURCOUNTRYANDBULLDOZEDOWNOURMARINELIFE I AM FURIOUS! SOMETHINGMORENEEDS TO BE DONETHANJUST ON LINEPETITIONSANDLETTERS. YOUNEED TO GET ON AIR, RADIO, BILLBOARDS, BUSES, SPLASH AN APP ON EVERYSINGLEIPHONEANDANDROID. KICKTHESEFREAKSOUT OF OURHOME. I CANNOTUNDERSTANDHOWANY OF OUR MP’S AREALLOWINGTHIS TO HAPPEN. ITSPROBABLYONE OF THEMOSTUNFATHOMABLEACTIONTAKINGPLACETODAY IN OURCOUNTRY.(along with the live export trade)

Ray Bowles commented
2016-08-19 16:21:28 +1000

Have you thought of getting SeaShepard involved because this looks like something that they would love to be involved in, and not only that they have the ability.

Can’t rely on the government footage, which should be available free of charge.
I suggest attempting to arrange a preview screening of what the outlay would purchase… then decide on whether it is worth the money.
Also, I’d go with another drone.
I noted someone commented about potential loss of life of an albatross… although that is not good… it is the bigger picture that is concern… one bird vs. millions of other (marine) lives… the choice is simple!
Brad

Personaly I would go with another drone. I would not rely on the freedom of information because we the members of the unwashed commoners all know that government and pollies only lie through their teeth and fudge evidence to make them look good and are taking our protest to heart. Just like the fairies at the bottom of the garden!! I would really like to see a concerted effort to put that ugly sucker on the bottom once and for all. I think that would really be worth paying for. maybe when the relavent dept heads are visiting it.

We do not have any control over the Government’s footage of the Whale Shark interaction as it was members of the Government who permitted the vessel to fish in the first instance. Surely, what you have in the above footage is enough evidence. It would be preferable that footage of an actual haul of fish. On the 22/2/2016 I received an email (from another source) “After already consuming untold numbers of dolphins, seals, albatross and thousands of tonnes of valuable baitfish, the monster nets of the super trawler Geelong Star have just caught one of the world’s largest fish – a whale shark! This shocking news was leaked by a crewmember, saying the whale shark had to be cut free and sank to the bottom dead.” Apparently, images where taken at the time .

Sue Bradley commented
2016-08-18 18:57:20 +1000

It’s unbelievable that any government would condone such raping and pillaging of national resources by some foreign company??!!

Drone is best. Interupts their trauling AND will allow film of their illegal catches. The authorities already knowof the existing film andwill defend it strongly. If an albatross is stupid enough to collide with the drone it deserves to be injured.

It seems unfair that you need to pay the government for footage that may or may not be useful. You need a zoom lens if you are going to use another drone because the film is not very clear and close up shots would be preferable if possible. What about an alliance with other activist organisations on this issue together with a TV documentary or some news footage?

Fantastic sleuth work on the ship from hell. Getting footage and putting it out there is so important so that public opinion pushes the Government to stop this wasteful form of fishing.

Setfia commented
2016-08-18 10:05:39 +1000

By using a drone you are placing albatrosses at risk. The drone has already perhaps injured or killed an albatross. Commercial fishermen want to use drones to find buoys but this is not allowed in some fisheries because of the risk to seabirds. Definitely use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain footage – the cost seems very reasonable.

Regina Gleeson commented
2016-08-18 09:52:47 +1000

You guys are awesome! What an impressive effort to get that drone out there. What about encouraging Four Corners to take on this story with the footage you have. If you can get some of the ‘money catch’ as evidence for the program the producers may well take this story on. It’s been successful for the Animal Liberation people and children in detention recently. I also like the idea of getting Sea Shepherd involved.

Then you can ask why they withheld this footage and did not post themselves. Do they not have a duty of disclosure and what other footage do they have?
Drone it as well so you have your own footage.

Jacqueline Stock commented
2016-08-18 08:56:57 +1000

Go the Whale Shark footage, especially due t its currency with the media and public sympathy for their continued existence. Don’t hand over the money though until the footage is in your hands and has proven to be worth the cost. Run another donation drive to fund a new drone but given the potential for problems with drones ( easily spotted, attack by bird etc) the actual footage is far more immediately valuable!

Axel Passeck commented
2016-08-18 08:47:58 +1000

The Whale Shark footage will cause international outrage and gain more support, especially after the movie Finding Dori. Sounds stupid but it is how the world works these days. Also with the recent upgrade to of Whale Shark to the ENDANGERED list, there is more pressure on Government to act.
Both would be the preferred option, but if you have to choose, I think the Whale Shark footage will gain world wide interest, whilst a new drone will keep it regional, which I believe we will be less effective. Keep up the amazing work!

Andrew Roche commented
2016-08-18 02:41:27 +1000

Go for the NEWDRONE because it does keep pressure on their actions in the future. And keep up the pressure on the freedom of information stuff re the Whale Shark photos or footage. There are some good young (conservation minded) law students and other people out there that would be willing to assist in this area. (Post a few “old school”type flyers around Melb Uni and other Universities to promote our cause.)
Maybe some informal discussion with other active conservation groups eg the people at Sea Shepherd may have some advice in this area?